Before attending our convention please ensure you read in full and understand the Ai-Kon’s Costume and Weapons policy.
Cosplay Repair Booth
If your cosplay is damaged or needs repair, don’t hesitate to find our cosplay repair booth open during Marketplace hours on the 3rd floor Concourse. Basic tools and repair materials are available for cosplayers, and our staff can assist in repairing or mending cosplay. Please be advised that the Cosplay Repair Booth is for REPAIRS only. It is not for helping complete unfinished cosplay projects.
Tools will be lent out at the Cosplay Repair Booth but must remain at the booth. Tools and other items must not leave the booth or be taken to another part of the venue. Coordinators at the booth are there to assist but will not travel across the venue to aide attendees.
Costume Policy
There is a wide variety of characters and styles seen in Japanese media, this allows cosplayers for a variety of outfit options available to wear to conventions. Ai-Kon is a family friendly event, please exercise discretion in the costume you choose, how it is constructed, and how you act in it.
Please be advised that ‘common sense’ guidelines will be used by the Ai-Kon or RBC CC venue staff in their decisions and our convention Access Policy will be enforced.
Please try to avoid overtly suggestive costumes; if possible, modify outfits that may not meet criteria in a way that will create less issue (e.g. shorts instead of a speedo). It is a requirement that costumes must cover the genitalia, bottom and breasts.
We also ask that cosplayers avoid costumes that promote vilifying or hateful behaviour, including but not limited to racist, transphobic/homophobic or sexist behaviour, as well as any controversial religious iconography.
We also ask that you conduct yourself appropriately in public and not in a manner that may be considered lewd, suggestive, or will otherwise make attendees and the public uncomfortable. Any violent, intimidating, anti-social or abusive behaviour, even while in cosplay will not be tolerated. Cosplay is not consent. We ask that you respect other attendees and always ask for permission first when taking photos. Please do not touch Cosplayers unless given permission to do so.
In the end, what will and will not be considered acceptable at Ai-Kon in regards to cosplay is up to the discretion of the Cosplay Department and the RBC Convention Staff. If a costume or attendee’s conduct falls under what is considered to be inappropriate, Ai-Kon will ask you to adjust the outfit and/or behaviour accordingly.
Weapons Policy
Failure to comply with the weapons policy may result in expulsion, without refund, from Ai-Kon and the RBC CC. In severe instances, law enforcement may be involved. Misuse of a prop, weapon or any other item, even if it falls within Ai-Kon’s weapons policy may also result in the prop being either confiscated and being asked to leave the convention for misconduct.
All props must be checked by the Ai-Kon Prop Check Staff. If it is not approved, it must be removed from the convention. The Prop Check area is not a BAG CHECK designation. Any unapproved prop cannot be left at the booth, it must be returned to the attendee’s vehicle or hotel room.
Please note, that even if an item was approved last year it must be rechecked each year.
Any weapon, prop or other items which do not meet the criteria, listed below, must be immediately returned to a hotel room, or vehicle for the duration of the convention.
If the weapon, prop or item is needed for the cosplay competition, arrangements can be made for it to be delivered to the backstage area for the competition, immediately after which the item must be returned to security, or removed from the convention.
FUNCTIONAL WEAPONS ARE NOT PERMITTED AT AI-KON
Attendees cannot carry or possess any functional weapons at any time during the convention.
The definition of “functional weapon” includes, but is not limited to: firearms and firearm replicas, and ammunition of any and all sorts (BB, pellet, cap, airsoft, paintball guns), bows, crossbows, tasers, explosives, knives, swords (including katanas, bokken and other martial arts style swords), daggers, sword canes, switchblades, fireworks or firecrackers, axes, hatchets, clubs, silly string, martial arts weapons, brass knuckles, chains, pepper spray, baseball bats, mace and any other projectile item, toy or real.
FIREARMS, AIRSOFT REPLICAS, and NERF GUNS/Gel Guns
Firearms that have the firing pin removed and/or barrel filled to make them unusable are still considered real weapons and are NOT permitted. This also includes airsoft weapons with the internals removed or modified.
Nerf Guns and Gel Guns are allowed so long as they still have an orange tip and are incapable of firing. Painted Nerf Guns and Gel Guns must still have an orange tip or cannot be mistaken for a real weapon. Nerf Guns and Gel Guns must not be fired at the venue and all dart/gel ammunition must be left at home, in a vehicle, or at the attendee’s hotel room.
Water Guns are allowed so long as they are empty. Any Water Gun being used on convention premises will be confiscated by RBC Convention or Ai-Kon Staff.
Replica firearms are allowed only if such weapons cannot be mistaken for a real weapon
Any realistic replica firearms not meeting criteria must be removed from the convention floor immediately.
OTHER PROPS AND WEAPON GUIDELINE
Bows and Crossbows are allowed only if they are rendered incapable of firing a projectile by replacing the bowstring with non-functional string. Arrows must have blunt tips or be made of soft foam. Arrows must never be fired at the venue.
Props under 50 inches long or wide, and less than 2 inches in thickness may be made out of carved wood materials, of any kind, wooden dowels are also acceptable as cores in foam oversized weapons or staffs. Please note that oversized props are not allowed within the Marketplace venue area. Oversized props may be left at bag check but not at the Prop Check booth.
Cardboard, foam, balsa or other light, craft-type wood, light and/or plastic or materials similar in nature to those items are acceptable. Covering a prohibited prop with duct tape, masking tape, painters tape, does not count towards making the prop safe towards our guidelines.
Absolutely no metal props, replica or otherwise, are allowed. This includes metal sports equipment such as aluminum bats, hardware items such as metal pipes and curtain rods, as well as kitchen utensils. Under no circumstances should metal props be brought to the venue.
Real sports equipment are not allowed. This includes baseball bats, golf clubs, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, tennis/badminton rackets, bowling pins, and cricket bats. Absolutely no Paddles of any kind.
Signs are allowed so long as they do not promote hate, violence, solicitation, contain religious iconography, sexual or lewd activity, and follow the same guidelines of the other props. Portable speakers are considered disruptive to other attendees and you will be asked to turn them off or to leave them at bag check, your vehicle, or hotel room.
Marketplace Items
All items purchased in the Marketplace are considered merchandise until they are removed from their packaging, at which time they fall under Ai-Kon’s weapons policy.
These items include, but are not limited to: swords or other martial arts weapons, knives, daggers, trainer weapons, ninja weapons (metal or hard plastic kunai knives, shuriken, etc.), and combative clothing (such as metal/hard spikes)
Any such item purchased at the Marketplace must be wrapped before leaving the vendor’s table and immediately taken, unopened, to a room, car or bag check.
Ai-Kon nor any of its affiliates, will not be held responsible for any loss, damage, theft or injury. Attendees are responsible for their individual actions and any repercussions that may result.